“They’re the salt of the earth” is a phrase that is used to describe an individual or group considered as the best or noblest elements of society. It is also what Jesus called those who believe in and follow Him. (Matthew 5:13)

Jesus compared His followers to salt for a reason. Salt is a dietary mineral, used for flavouring and preservation, and helps regulate the water content in our bodies. It’s a necessity.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavour how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (as worthless) by men.” (Matthew 5:13)

In another reference to salt Jesus said, ”Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile, it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:34)

The language used by Jesus for salt to lose its saltiness is that it has become “tasteless, insipid, and worthless”, so that men will throw it out.

Sodium chloride (or salt) is a stable element, which doesn’t lose its flavour unless contaminated by other substances or is diluted by water. Jesus was warning us that we are called to influence, bringing balance and hope to the world. He fully expects the world to be transformed by our presence. But if we are going to change the world we have to be pure “salt”; we have to be the real deal. Our lives can’t be full of compromise, a mixture of the world and God, of truth and impurities.

People are crying out for the supernatural, for the truth of Jesus; for authenticity. But when we dilute the power of the gospel, and the power of God’s Word so that we don’t offend, or we compromise what we believe and value to fit in with others, we become like salt that has lost it’s flavour. We become insipid in how we live as Christ followers, prone to diluting the power of what Jesus has done.

Consider for a moment that if the world see’s Christianity and the Church as worthless and something to be thrown aside, perhaps we need to first look at ourselves. Have we in our efforts to not offend, to fit in, and to be seen as being relevant to those who don’t know Jesus, that we have diluted the true power of the gospel? Have we become too clever for our own good, and in doing so appear in many cases to look no different to the world? The apostle Paul said to his listeners “I did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God…I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1; 3-4)

Jesus equips us to live authentic, undiluted, powerful Christianity. That we demonstrate the power of what Jesus has done as we break the strongholds of death, sickness, lack, poverty, and sin over people’s lives. But if we keep diluting the truth of who Jesus is, is it no wonder people often take no heed, and are prone to throw our faith aside as worthless?

Let’s stop diluting the truth and really start to believe what Jesus has done for all mankind. People listen to and recognise the “real deal”, just as they noticed and gathered in their thousands when Jesus and the early disciples ministered with demonstrations of healings, miracles, deliverance and the power of God.

It’s time we stepped up for this generation and determined to be the salt and the light – “to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

“If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:7-8)

Prayer: Lord forgive me where I have become insipid in my faith and have diluted the power of the gospel. I want to be the real deal; to be the salt and the light. Holy Spirit would you fill me with your power, and with boldness so that I might live as a follower of Jesus. In Jesus name Amen.